It’s Dubai World Cup Night in the Middle East this Saturday, while at home there are jumps card at Kelso and Newbury. This is the time of year where both codes of thoroughbred horse racing take place together. See who Horsebetting.com experts like with Meydan betting tips and more.
Kelso betting tips – Tommy’s Oscar your best bet
In the extended 2m handicap hurdle at Kelso (14:40), Tommy’s Oscar can resume winning ways. This is an easier class 2 contest than the Morebattle Hurdle that this six-year-old gelding ran in over course and distance last time out.
The winner, The Shunter, has since collected a £100,000 bonus for winning at the Cheltenham Festival. Although no match for him and more lauded rivals, Tommy’s Oscar is not in so deep here. He has also been dropped 1lb by the handicapper; so, despite meeting re-opposing rival Christopher Wood off worse terms, could confirm form.
Having farmed minor events at Sedgefield, Newcastle and Musselburgh over the winter, Tommy’s Oscar has some ability. He has also won with good in the going description. The form of his third to Oscar Elite in an Irish point has been advertised by the winner, who ran a big race when runner-up in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham, and the fourth home Pasvolsky, victorious at Kempton last weekend.
That makes Tommy’s Oscar well worth another crack. With a couple of rivals running from out of the weights, Dubai Days declared at Musselburgh on Friday as well and questions over the form of Dan Skelton’s Across The Line, he looks the best option. Tommy’s Oscar is 5/1 with William Hill to get his head in front again.
Red Infantry also appeals
Another of our Kelso betting tips is Red Infantry in the 3m 2f handicap chase (13:35). Trained by Ian Williams, this 11-year-old rolled back the years by just getting up and winning the Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster last time out. It was a big return to form for the veteran Indian River gelding.
Red Infantry is up 5lb for a head success, but the way he rallied on the Town Moor run-in showed all his appetite was still there. He has never won off higher than 132, but this is an easier race than the Grimthorpe. The fact that he pulled seven lengths clear of previous Grade 3 winner Canelo reads really well in relation to here.
Tests of stamina like this on decent ground look the key to Red Infantry. Robbie Dunne, who has won twice before on him, is now back aboard. With Williams’ team still among the winners, Red Infantry has odds of 7/2 with William Hill to follow-up.
Meydan betting tips – Lord Glitters get Dubai Turf vote
On Dubai World Cup Night in Meydan, the 1m 1f Group 1 Dubai Turf (15:30) sees thriving veteran Lord Glitters going for glory. Trained by David O’Meara, the eight-year-old Whipper gelding has course and distance form figures of 3121. Lord Glitters simply loves it out in the Middle East.
A hold-up horse that relies on a late burst, only Zakouski denied him completing a hat-trick here over the winter. Lord Glitters won both the Singspiel Stakes and the Jebel Hatta, running on well both times to get up close home. On official ratings, he is the second best horse in the race.
Top spot goes to Lord North, but Lord Glitters has a fitness edge over that fellow British raider. The favourite may want further than nine furlongs, especially after completing a hat-trick over 1m 2f last season that culminated in Royal Ascot success. Lord Gliters is so likeable that he’s preferred at 100/30 with BetVictor to go in again.
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Equilateral appeals in Al Quoz Sprint
Another of our Meydan betting tips is Equilateral in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint over 6f (13:30). Trained by Charlie Hills, this six-year-old Equiano gelding has consecutive victories at this track down at the minimum distance, but ran on so well that trying this trip again with a bend could suit.
Equilateral won the Group 2 Meydan Sprint by a length when last in action, giving weight to Acklam Express. As he meets that horse off the same terms again, he may well confirm the form. His second behind Battaash in the King’s Stand at Royal Ascot also reads well for this.
A record of three wins and a second from four starts at this track given supporters of Equilateral every reason to feel confident. The favourite Space Blues hung badly to his right on his only outing here, so can be taken on. Equilateral fits the bill for that under Frankie Dettori at 13/2 with William Hill, who pay four places on each-way bets.
Spanish Mission the Dubai Gold Cup choice
The 2m Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup over 2m (12:50) sees globetrotter Spanish Mission out for more international success. Trained by Andrew Balding, this five-year-old prove his stamina with success at this level in the Doncaster Cup over further during last autumn’s St Leger Festival.
As the ground came up good that day, there are no concerns about the son of Noble Mission getting the trip. Althouh a disappointing sixth when sent off favourite for the Nad Al Sheba Trophy at this venue last year, Spanish Mission has the benefit of a run under his belt.
He also had the speed and class to win the 2019 Jockey Club Derby Invitational at Belmont Park in New York. Spanish Mission gets the services of Ryan Moore in the saddle once again, and he’s twice finished second on him. At odds of 6/1 with bet365, he looks like having a big say in the finish on the pick of his form.
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Newbury betting tips – One True King a solid each-way punt
In the extended 2m 2f novice handicap hurdle at Newbury (14:50), One True King looks a good each-way play. I put this Nigel Twiston-Davies inmate forward for the Imperial Cup only for him to be withdrawn due to unsuitable going when rain hit Sandown.
He runs here in much shallower waters and a sounder surface instead. A six-year-old gelding by Getaway, One True King has won two of his seven hurdles starts and made the frame on four other occasions. As the 2m 5f trip of the Lanzarote Hurdle proved beyond him, dropping back in trip looks a huge plus.
One True King also runs off 1lb lower in this class 2 contest. His tenth in last season’s Champion Bumper reads well in the context of this event too. With Sam Twiston-Davies again in the saddle, One True King looks solid each-way value at 7/1 with Betfred for the frame.
Bombyx a bet to follow-up
Bombyx made a good debut over obstacles and is quickly turned out under a penalty in the 2m novice hurdle (16:35). Now trained by Lucy Wadham, he ran a close fourth at Listed level to Aspetar, a subsequent Group 1 winner in Germany, and fine third to Cross Counter in the Group 3 Gordon Stakes at Glorious Goodwood back in 2018. That is strong form and helped this six-year-old achieve a peak Flat rating of 98.
Despite a 620-day break and leaving the care of James Fanshawe, Bombyx landed her hurdles bow at Huntingdon last week. He raced wide early on under champion jockey Brian Hughes, so he could get a clear sight. Despite a slight mistake at the last, Bombyx was clear and ran out a comfortable seven-length winner at evens.
What he beat is questionable, but the Sir Percy gelding can only improve for the outing. Naturally High won a Listed race on the level when trained in France and had a 102 rating, but faces a 923-day absence from the track. Bombyx appeals more at 7/4 with 888sport, so completes our Newbury betting tips on a big day of international horse racing.
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